This year for our last day of our firm's management retreat we focused a lot on charities and a little bit on public speaking. Local, world-wide, and everything in between; Dawn Brenner, our Managing Partner, thought up a wonderful idea to give each team member the opportunity to research a charity of their choice and present it to the rest of the firm. 


The firm would give each team member $25 to go towards their charity. Each person would then prepare a two minute presentation. After each person had presented, a silent vote would be administered and the charity with the most votes would win $250 to be donated on behalf of the winner and Grant Bennett Associates.

We can happily report that we all learned, cried and experienced how real these charities are.  

Here is a list of the charities that were researched and presented.
-----------------------------------------------------
Puppies Behind Bars: 

Their Website: http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/home
Their Mission: Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement. Puppies enter prison at the age of eight weeks and live with their inmate puppy-raisers for approximately 24 months. As the puppies mature into well-loved, well-behaved dogs, their raisers learn what it means to contribute to society rather than take from it. PBB programs bring the love and healing of dogs to hundreds of individuals every year. The dogs bring hope and pride to their raisers, and independence and security to those they serve.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Grace Network: 

Their Website: http://www.thegracenetwork.org/
Their Mission: “The Grace Network (TGN) began fighting human trafficking informally in January 2009. In the summer of 2011, TGN took it’s mission to the next level and became a formalized anti-trafficking initiative in Sacramento, CA. Since then, TGN has experienced tremendous growth in a period of four years – mobilizing thousands of people to combat human trafficking and being featured by local TV, radio, and print media. Now, with the GraceCity™ app launch, TGN’s team travels throughout California to equip and empower communities to holistically address trafficking and exploitation. TGN is beyond grassroots, it’s really a grass-seed movement. Human trafficking is a multifaceted issue. It requires a creative, powerful, and passionate response. TGN will continue to be that response and rally cities everywhere we go to respond. We truly believe IT TAKES A CITY TO FIGHT! We’re not building our kingdom, we’re building a movement that outlives us whether we get the recognition or not. Will you join us? Let’s go!” – Chris Stambaugh, Founder
-----------------------------------------------------
**Together We Rise:

Their Website: https://www.togetherwerise.org/
Their Mission: Together We Rise is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Our vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public. We collaborate with community partners to bring resources to foster youth and use service-learning activities to educate volunteers on issues surrounding the foster care system. TWR works with hundreds of foster agencies, social workers, CASA advocates, and other partners to bring our programs to foster youth across the nation. Our foundation has allowed us to provide thousands of foster youth across the country with new bicycles, college supplies, and suitcases so that children do not have to travel from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag.
-----------------------------------------------------
United Way: 

Their Website: http://www.yourlocalunitedway.org/
Their Mission: At United Way California Capital Region, we are a team dedicated to building stronger, healthier, more compassionate communities. Our staff works with donors, volunteers, corporate partners, nonprofit partners, schools, government bodies and more to improve people’s lives by working together and bringing all of our resources to the table. United Way California Capital Region is an independent local affiliate of United Way Worldwide with a local board of directors, and we serve five counties: Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo. We believe that when we LIVE UNITED, we can bring bold change to our community.
-----------------------------------------------------
Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary: 

Their Website: http://www.happytails.org/
Their Mission: Sacramento's Volunteer, No-Kill, Cage-Free Pet Sanctuary. Founded in 1993, Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary is an animal rescue group dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of homeless and abused animals throughout the Sacramento area. 
-----------------------------------------------------
Charity Ball: 

Their Website: https://charityball.org/
Their Mission: The Beautiful Game
-----------------------------------------------------
Ride to Walk: 

Their Website: http://www.ridetowalk.org/
Their Mission: Ride To Walk's mission is to enhance the lives of children and young adults with neurological disabilities by providing innovative therapeutic horseback riding activities that are recreational in nature and adapted to the individual's needs and abilities. Ride To Walk strives to provide a positive support system for individuals with disabilities, their parents/caregivers, and our community.
-----------------------------------------------------
WEAVE: 

Their Website: https://www.weaveinc.org/
Their Mission: WEAVE is the primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County.  Through a multi-disciplinary effort with Sacramento County, law enforcement, the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Court, Child Protective Services, and the District Attorney’s Office, WEAVE also provides 24/7 response, outreach and services for victims of sex trafficking.
-----------------------------------------------------
Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue: 

Their Website: https://homewardboundgoldens.org/
Their Mission: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization which rescues and heals displaced, abandoned, and homeless Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes, regardless of their age or health. Homeward Bound secures safe, loving homes through a comprehensive adoption program, and also provides lifetime sanctuary for Goldens that cannot be adopted.
-----------------------------------------------------
Special Olympics Northern California: 

Their Website: https://www.sonc.org/
Their Mission: We pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of services to our athletes.  Our sports training and competition opportunities provide athletes of all ability levels the chance to play and be part of a team. Skills like being a good teammate, winning with grace, and encouraging others are all skills that carry over into their everyday lives. We're in our schools!  Through sports, we are bringing special education students and general education students on the same playing field, promoting acceptance and respect for all.   Our Healthy Athlete Program encourages good health and a healthy lifestyle so that athletes can compete at their very best.   
-----------------------------------------------------
Woodcreek High School Boys Tennis Team: 

Their Website: https://www.rjuhsd.us/domain/377
Their Mission: Woodcreek High School Boys Tennis Team is a subchapter of the Woodcreek High School Booster Club.  The Boys Tennis Team is open to all students and all skill levels.  The program’s goals besides playing tennis is to have fun, encourage comradeship,  and stress respect of yourself and others.
-----------------------------------------------------

** This charity won the silent vote and was given an extra donation of $250.